It only takes a split second for your hearing to be impacted for the rest of your life. That's why using proper hearing protection in industrial settings is so important. Hearing loss is a serious occupational hazard that deserves priority. If loud noises are part of your workplace, you need to know some important facts about hearing safety.

Understanding Occupational Hearing Hazards

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when the sensitive structures in the inner ear are damaged by loud sound. Sounds above 80 decibels can trigger vibrations that are intense enough to cause damage to the inner ear. In many workplace settings, noises that are experienced daily exceed this threshold. For example, the sound of a large truck just a few yards away can reach 90 decibels. Jackhammers, jet engines, and noises from rock concerts can all reach 100 to 130 decibels. According to experts, the jobs that come with the greatest risks for hearing damage and loss include airline ground maintenance, construction, farming, and any roles involving machinery or loud music.

Effects on Health and Productivity

Exposure to occupational noise can significantly impact a person's professional and personal life. It can reduce productivity and safety in the workplace. The most significant symptom of hearing damage is the death of nerve endings in the inner ear, leading to permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss often cannot be corrected with surgery or medication. People suffering from noise-related damage may also experience headaches.

Hearing loss can affect a person's long-term ability to communicate. For people who have noise-induced hearing loss, the fact that they are experiencing impaired hearing isn't always obvious. This can create safety risks in the workplace because the impacted person may not be able to hear incoming machinery, alarms, or instructions from other team members.

Legal and Professional Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has very specific standards for noise safety in workplaces. Employers must legally implement hearing conservation programs when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 decibels over the course of eight working hours. In addition to providing hearing protection devices, workplaces must also provide knowledge for properly wearing devices and utilizing best practices.

Best Practices for Protecting Hearing

Damage from occupational noise exposure is preventable. Workplaces must work to control worker exposure to excessive noise whenever possible. Best practices for achieving this include isolating noise sources, upgrading to quieter machinery, limiting the time each worker is exposed to noise, and providing effective protective ear equipment.

The Role of Technology

Technology for protecting hearing in workplaces is better than ever. If your workplace still uses the same ear-protection technology purchased five to 10 years ago, you're behind. First, fit testing is essential to ensure that each worker wears protective gear properly. Workers are less likely to wear protection if the fit is uncomfortable. Other innovations available today include level-dependent hearing protection that provides different noise reduction modes depending on the surrounding noise levels, in-ear and over-ear protective gear that combines external noise-blocking tech with internal voice communication for communication in all environments, and better noise-measurement technology.

Protect Your Hearing from Occupational Hearing Hazards

Protecting workers from occupational hearing hazards takes awareness, compliance with regulations, and proper hearing protection. While you can't always take the noise out of a workplace, you can take some of the risk out of noise by adhering closely to today's best practices. If you're looking for more insights about using proper hearing protection in the workplace, the hearing experts at Beltone Dallas Fort Worth are here to help. Please book a consultation with our hearing specialists today.